Gamification is so fun, and it’s actually one of the first things I noticed when starting this course. I found minecraft for education and my mind was BLOWN. I found a bunch of lessons on the minecraft for education website and I think it is so cool. Here is a link to one of the ones I found about making your home more eco-friendly. Students have a goal for the game and there are even listed learning outcomes for the lesson. I would be over the moon thrilled if this had existed when I was a student.
https://education.minecraft.net/en-us/challenges/green-building
I don’t remember playing many games in elementary school, aside from All the Write Type (which was a pain and I never got it right). However, as a swim coach now for swimmers aged 3-10 I know better than ever, if a skill can be taught in a game… DO IT!!! Especially the really little ones. Throwing hockey pucks, paddles, and poker chips at the bottom of the shallow end and asking them to sink down and grab them so they get used to going headfirst into the water, blowing bubble moustaches and seeing who can blow the most bubbles. If you can make learning more fun, than why not do it, because it is going to amplify engagement and almost guarantee that the learning outcomes will be met.
Here is a graphic I made with a few fun learning games teachers can give students time to work and learn with.
